How do you deal with a negative co-worker you are managing?

Morganie4: How do you deal with a negative co-worker you are managing?
I have a co-worker on a project I’m managing that nay-says everything I suggest. I try to encourage her and be positive, but she never has anything but doubt and negative things to say about the project, my ideas, and even her own ideas! She’s just negative!

How can I help her to focus on the task at hand and not complain so much?

Answers and Views:

Answer by cats3to2
Are her complaints valid? Does she perhaps have experience that would show her something wouldn’t work that you are suggesting? Do you listen to her reason for saying something wouldn’t work and explain why it would?

I was accused by a former boss of being negative after I asked a question at a meeting. We had opened a glass factory to produce glass exclusively for TV picture tubes. And back then, the projected date for the country going to digital TV’s was 2001. So, wanting to know how long the job could possibly last, I simply asked, if when everyone switched eventually to digital TV’s would the plant make something else or would we all be out of a job? I was being realistic and thinking ahead, not being negative. Yet I was written up for just asking and never got an answer. Well sure enough, the company went belly up maybe 2 years ago for the exact reasons I asked about.

So I just ask my initial questions from my experiences. Now in your case, if she truly has no facts to back up her nay saying then I’d just gently approach her and say how important her support is to you and that you’d like to see some. And if she’s even putting down her own ideas it sounds like she has some self esteem problems. And that would be a core personality trait hard to do anything about. You could try praising her more and see if that has any effect.

Perhaps you could transfer her to a quality control job. That’s where nit picky people thrive. Good luck. Hope the work atmosphere improves.

Answer by latj
You need to talk to her in private, but in a polite and professional way. Explain to her exactly what you said here. Tell her that you feel that she is being “negative” and trying to “overtake” the project and will not listen to any of your ideas. Let her know in a polite and professional way that you are both involved in the project and that you expect to be just involved as she is. Good luck!!!
Peace & Love 🙂

Answer by debijs
~~I would have a private meeting with her. Tell her you appreciate an welcome all positive feedback from everyone. However, if there is a complaint, she must suggest a remedy when she brings it to your attention, so it can be kicked around.

I say this as we have dealt with these type of employees in my husband’s company. We laid down the rule of “unless you have a solution to something, don’t bother bringing a complaint in.” We don’t tolerate whiners.

It makes for a much more positive working environment for everyone!~~

Answer by !!!
I have always said this about team projects: they bring out the best and worst in people.

Take your co-worker aside and explain that as a team everybody is expected to cooperate and produce results. Ask her what steps can she take to become a team player. It sounds like she has very few mentors in her professional and private life. She also lacks confidence.

Answer by Chris(f)
OMG I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU!
Having someone who is negative 24-7 is not only annoying but it can affect your health!
You just have to agree with everything she says, compliment her, make her feel like she’s a huge asset. After a while, she’ll start to say nice things about your ideas.

Answer by Norton
You have negative and positive people at very job, you just have to have the knack for keeping the right balance and keeping the team afloat. If the team doesn’t succeed, no one does.